French parliament to mull law to cut consumer waste

France’s parliament yesterday started debating legislation seeking to move the country closer to its ambition of a low-waste future, forcing electronics firms to use second-hand materials and cutting down on plastic refuse. France, with its population of nearly 70 million, is a voracious consumer of natural resources, producing five tonnes of waste per person per year, according to the environment ministry.

The French Senate will begin three days of discussion on the bill before it is handed to the lower house of parliament, the National Assembly, where President Emmanuel Macron’s government has a large majority. The legislation would compel computer and cellphone repair shops to use second-hand materials, and oblige industries -- including manufacturers of toys, building materials, cigarettes and cleaning products -- to manage the waste these products generate as well as their packaging.

The law would also compel manufacturers to provide consumers, beginning in 2021, with information on how their newly-purchased product can be repaired.